A Midday Prayer to Refocus Your Heart and Mind on Jesus
By Laura Bailey
Bible Reading:
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” - Ephesians 6:18 NIV
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In full transparency, I’ve never had an overly active prayer life. Even in the busiest seasons, I’ve found a way to prioritize Bible reading, squeezing in Scripture memory while curling my hair or making dinner. No matter how late the night or early the morning, I’ve made it to church and prioritized the Christian community. I’ve made a lot of room in my life talking about God, but not a ton of time talking to Him.
One day, as I was waiting to pick up my daughters from school, sitting in the car- naturally- I felt a gentle tug at my heart, “You know, you can pray to me anytime; it doesn’t have to be the quiet of your room, the stillness of the sanctuary, or at a scheduled time, in your car will work just fine.” I’d convinced myself that it wasn't the appropriate time to pray if I wasn’t head bowed, on my knees, in complete silence.
Nothing could be farther from the truth.
While there are times for private prayer, where we go into our rooms, shut the door, and cry out to the Lord in solitude( Matthew 6:6-7), it doesn’t always have to be those circumstances for us to talk to our Father in Heaven. The Lord desires that we communicate with him throughout our day, not just in the morning or at night. And so, I found that the best way to incorporate a habitual, consistent prayer practice was to pray in the many moments I spent sitting in my car. Eventually, what started as a forced reminder to speak with God quickly turned into my looking for opportunities to sit in the driver’s seat so I could snag a few minutes with the Lord.
In Ephesians 6:18, Paul encourages us to “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” This verse comes at the end of Paul’s admonishment for believers to put on the whole armor of God so that we can fight spiritual battles. Paul highlights the importance of prayer in fighting the enemy’s attacks and battling the spiritual forces that wage against us.
When we pray, we acknowledge that it is not us who hold the power to fight strongholds, heal the brokenhearted, wipe away sin, or give hope to the weary; it is the Lord. We communicate our desires to the Creator of the Universe, but ultimately, we pray that our desires are His desires. Paul reminds us that we should pray on occasions, at all times, when we are happy, sad, discouraged, uplifted, anxious, and elated, and we can bring all our feelings to the Lord. We are encouraged to be alert, seeking opportunities to petition God on behalf of the saints.
My abundance of car time allows me to pray continually, without ceasing ( 1 Thessalonians 5:17) for others and myself. Maybe for you, it’s while you walk, sit by a loved one’s bed, or wait for your child during practice. It doesn't matter where we pray, as long as we do, not out of obligation, but the opportunity to have a personal conversation with our Savior.
Let’s Pray:
Heavenly Father, though you are Creator of the Universe, Lord of all, Alpha and Omega, You delight in a personal relationship with Your Children. Let us take every opportunity to come before you in prayer. There are many needs around us; let us be alert to the countless requests of others and pray on their behalf. Help us remember that it is not in our power but in the power of Christ at work that we pray for You to heal the sick, meet the needs of the saints, and bring hope to the masses. We love You, Lord, and ask that we never take the ability to speak directly with You for granted. Guide us and direct us, and help us abide in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Photo Credit: Unsplash/Olivia Snow
She lives in Upstate South Carolina with her husband and three young girls, where she serves as director of women's ministries at her church. Her passion is teaching the Bible to women, equipping them to live with an eternal perspective. Invite Laura to speak at your next event or learn more: www.LauraRBailey.com
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